Split tube soil sampling system

Abstract

A split tube soil sampling system includes a sample tube having an upper end and a lower end, a drive head attached to the upper end of the sample tube, and a cutting shoe attached to the lower end of the sample tube. The sample tube has a first generally semi cylindrical tube segment comprising a first pair of longitudinal edges, and a second generally semi cylindrical tube segment comprising a second pair of longitudinal edges. The first and second tube segments are configured to be joined together along their respective longitudinal edges to form a cylinder having a through bore. The longitudinal edges of the tube segments have interlocking fingers that are mated together to hold the first and second tube segments together.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A split tube soil sampling system, comprising:
 a sample tube having an upper end and a lower end; 
 a drive head attached to the upper end of said sample tube; 
 a cutting shoe attached to the lower end of said sample tube; 
 said sample tube comprising a first generally semi cylindrical tube segment comprising a first pair of longitudinal edges, and a second generally semi cylindrical tube segment comprising a second pair of longitudinal edges, said first and second tube segments being configured to be joined together along their respective longitudinal edges to form a cylinder having a through bore, said longitudinal edges of said tube segments comprising interlocking fingers that are mated together to hold the first and second tube segments together; 
 wherein each of said interlocking fingers extends at a non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal direction of said sample tube, said fingers each include a first end that defines a trough, a second end that defines a crest, and a sloped surface extending between said first and second ends that engages a corresponding sloped surface on the other tube segment to provide a means for forcing the tube segments laterally apart when the tube segments are slid longitudinally relative to each other. 
 
     
     
       2. The split tube soil sampling system according to  claim 1 , wherein said tube segments of said sample tube are further held together by a first threaded coupling between said upper end of the sample tube and said drive head, and a second threaded coupling between said lower end of the sample tube and said cutting shoe. 
     
     
       3. The split tube soil sampling system according to  claim 2 , wherein said upper end of the sample tube comprises male threads that are mated with female threads of said drive head to form said first threaded coupling, and said lower end of the sample tube comprises male threads that are mated with female threads of said cutting shoe to form said second threaded coupling. 
     
     
       4. The split tube soil sampling system according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said interlocking fingers are located on each of said longitudinal edges of said tube segments. 
     
     
       5. The split tube soil sampling system according to  claim 4 , wherein said interlocking fingers are arranged in a wave pattern of overlapping crests and troughs along each of said longitudinal edges. 
     
     
       6. The split tube soil sampling system according to  claim 1 , wherein said interlocking fingers are integral with said tube segments and define a portion of a sidewall of said cylinder. 
     
     
       7. The split tube soil sampling system according to  claim 1 , wherein said interlocking fingers on said first tube segment overlap with said interlocking fingers on said second tube segment in a circumferential direction of said cylinder such that the fingers of one of the tube segments are received in the troughs of the other tube segment and vice versa. 
     
     
       8. The split tube soil sampling system according to  claim 1 , wherein said second ends of said interlocking fingers are rounded to minimize stress concentrations. 
     
     
       9. The split tube soil sampling system according to  claim 1 , wherein said troughs are rounded to minimize stress concentrations. 
     
     
       10. A split tube soil sampling system, comprising:
 a sample tube having an upper end and a lower end; 
 a drive head attached to the upper end of said sample tube; 
 a cutting shoe attached to the lower end of said sample tube; 
 said sample tube comprising a first generally semi cylindrical tube segment comprising a first pair of longitudinal edges, and a second generally semi cylindrical tube segment comprising a second pair of longitudinal edges, said first and second tube segments being configured to be joined together along their respective longitudinal edges to form a cylinder having a through bore, said longitudinal edges of said tube segments comprising interlocking fingers that are mated together to hold the first and second tube segments together; 
 wherein a plurality of said interlocking fingers are located on each of said longitudinal edges of said tube segments; 
 wherein said interlocking fingers are arranged in a wave pattern of overlapping crests and troughs along each of said longitudinal edges; and 
 wherein each of said interlocking fingers has a first end that defines a trough, a second end that defines a crest, and a sloped surface extending between said first and second ends that engages a corresponding sloped surface on the other tube segment to provide a means for forcing the tube segments laterally apart when the tube segments are slid longitudinally relative to each other. 
 
     
     
       11. A soil sampling tube assembly for collecting soil samples, comprising:
 a first generally semi cylindrical tube segment comprising a first pair of longitudinal edges; 
 a second generally semi cylindrical tube segment comprising a second pair of longitudinal edges; 
 said first and second tube segments being configured to be joined together along their respective longitudinal edges to form a cylinder having a through bore, said longitudinal edges of said tube segments comprising interlocking fingers that are mated together to hold the first and second tube segments together; 
 wherein each of said interlocking fingers has a first end that defines a trough, a second end that defines a crest, and a sloped surface extending between said first and second ends that engages a corresponding sloped surface on the other tube segment to provide a means for forcing the tube segments laterally apart when the tube segments are slid longitudinally relative to each other. 
 
     
     
       12. The soil sampling tube assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said tube segments comprise male threaded upper ends for forming a first threaded coupling with a drive head, and male threaded lower ends for forming a second threaded coupling with a cutting shoe. 
     
     
       13. The soil sampling tube assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said interlocking fingers are each disposed at a non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal direction of said cylinder, whereby said fingers assist in separating the tube segments when the tube segments are slid longitudinally relative to each other. 
     
     
       14. The soil sampling tube assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of said interlocking fingers are located on each of said longitudinal edges of said tube segments. 
     
     
       15. The soil sampling tube assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said interlocking fingers are arranged in a wave pattern of overlapping crests and troughs along each of said longitudinal edges. 
     
     
       16. The soil sampling tube assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said interlocking fingers are integral with said tube segments and define a portion of a sidewall of said cylinder. 
     
     
       17. A soil sampling tube assembly for collecting soil samples, comprising:
 a first generally semi cylindrical tube segment comprising a first pair of longitudinal edges; 
 a second generally semi cylindrical tube segment comprising a second pair of longitudinal edges; 
 said first and second tube segments being configured to be joined together along their respective longitudinal edges to form a cylinder having a through bore, said longitudinal edges of said tube segments comprising interlocking fingers that are mated together to hold the first and second tube segments together; 
 wherein each of said interlocking fingers extends at a non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal direction of said sample tube, said fingers each include a first end that defines a trough, a second end that defines a crest, and a sloped surface extending between said first and second ends that engages a corresponding sloped surface on the other tube segment to provide a means for forcing the tube segments laterally apart when the tube segments are slid longitudinally relative to each other. 
 
     
     
       18. The soil sampling tube assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said interlocking fingers on said first tube segment overlap with said interlocking fingers on said second tube segment in a circumferential direction of said cylinder such that the fingers of one of the tube segments are received in the troughs of the other tube segment and vice versa. 
     
     
       19. The soil sampling tube assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said second ends of said interlocking fingers are rounded to minimize stress concentrations. 
     
     
       20. The soil sampling tube assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said troughs are rounded to minimize stress concentrations.